Present History Podcast

By Present HistoryTV & Film Education History Film History

Present History Podcast episodes

February 04, 2025 The Story of the SAS: The Real Rogue Heroes
How do you win a world war? How do you liberate a city overrun with an overwhelming number of enemy soldiers? How do you take out a fortress perching on a cliff-edge, behind enemy lines? How do you escape a prisoner of war camp? How do you stop a fleet of enemy planes before they take to the skies?

Sometimes, it takes those we might call ‘crazy’. That rare-breed of people with low risk aversion, a willingness to run headlong at the enemy’s lines, and an ability to do anything it takes to achieve their objectives. Those that might be called, ‘Rogue Heroes’.

This is the story of the Special Air Service, the most elite unit in the British Military. They have become intertwined with legend and myth. They are, the SAS.
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22 min
August 16, 2024 The Oldest Rivalry in Football: England vs Scotland
It has never failed to deliver drama, intensity and truly lives up to the reputation as the longest lasting and greatest rivalry in international football. Here's a short history of the oldest rivalry in football: England vs Scotland.

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7 min
August 02, 2024 Britain's Little Friend: A Short History of the Isle of Wight
This is the story of the little island of the coast of England: Britain's little companion. From its earliest geographical formation, to the Second World War, this island has seen occupations and invasions, kings and queens, uprisings, bombings, war and peace; saints and sinners, devils and angels. This is a short history of the Isle of Wight: Britain's little friend.
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10 min
July 19, 2024 I'll Make a Man of You: Recruitment Songs of the First World War
Music has always been able to elicit powerful emotional reactions in its listeners, and this was utilised to an impressive degree by those artistes and music halls that rallied to the war effort. They were a successful means by which to drive recruitment, and helped mobilise a generation of men to fight ‘The War to End All Wars’.
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11 min
July 05, 2024 The Stories of Britain: Myths, Cultural Identity and World War One
How did our cultural identity come about? How were myths, legends and stories of British history used to form, impact, and, in many ways, control British cultural identity? By looking at the myths of King Arthur and St George, Zachary Peatling explores the construction of British Cultural Identity, and how it was weaponised during the First World War.

Recorded live at Chalke History Festival 2024.
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29 min
March 08, 2024 A History of Britain in 15 Women (and maybe a couple more)
Thomas Carlyle in 1840 wrote that ‘world history is but the biography of great men’, and yet, British history is filled with powerful, influential and dynamic women, who actively changed the course of Britain forever. This is a history of Britain through the stories of 15 women, and maybe a couple more too.
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37 min
July 14, 2023 Singing Hymns Until Death: The Joy of the British Martyrs
Singing Hymns Until Death: The Joy of the British Martyrs | Zachary Peatling | Live at Chalke Valley History Festival 2023

In this talk, recorded live at Chalke Valley History Festival 2023, Zachary Peatling investigates the stories of some of Britain's protestant martyrs, getting to the core of how, why, they could go to their deaths with a sense of joy and hope.
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32 min
April 25, 2023 Æthelflæd: England’s Forgotten Warrior Queen
Although she is not often remembered or celebrated, it is difficult to overstate the importance of Æthelflæd and her rule. She was pivotal as a founding mother of England, and ruled with cunning, power and success.
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10 min
March 15, 2023 The Age of Sail with Philip K. Allan
In this episode, Zachary Peatling had the opportunity to sit down with Philip K. Allan, a critically acclaimed naval historian and author.

Check out Philip:
http://philipkallan.com
https://twitter.com/PhilipKAllan

Follow Zachary:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/zacharypeatling
Website: https://www.presenthistory.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
53 min
March 10, 2023 The Age of Sail with Philip K. Allan

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53 min